Centrifugal separator.



G. E. SANFORD, E. W. KOPKE & H. E. PROGUNIER.

' GENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 24, 1909.

Patented May 23, 1911.

Q. 4 SHEETSSHEBT 1. a I 43 4 40 J6 wvll'wsses. I Hgz q 01.5.

G. E. SANFORD, E. W. KOPKE & H. E. PROGUNIER. GENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 24, 1909.

992,809, Patented May 23, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Q Q Q Q E. SANFORD, E. W. KOPKE & Hf-E. PROGUNI ER.

GENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 24, 1909.

. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

(WQCDOOOOOCQQM) OHDOJCDOOOOGKOQOQ (D Patented May 23, 1911.

\ G. E. SAN FORD, E. w. KOPKE 19 H. E. PROOUNIER.

' GENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR. 1

APPLIUATION FILED DEC. 24, 1909.

Patented May 23, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

construct-ion and their UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. SANFORD, ERNST W. KOPKE, AND HENRY E. PROGUNIER, CHICAGO, ILLI- NOIS, ASSIGNORS T0 INTERNATIONAL GLARIF YING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLI- NOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CENTRIFUGAL snram'ron.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 24, 1909. Serial No. 534,806.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE E. SANFORD, ERNST W. KOPKE, and HENRY E. PRO- CUNIER, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Separators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The purpose of this invent-ion is to pro- 'vide an lmproved structure for separating by centrifugal action, substances of different densities, whether all are liquid or part liquid and part solid.

It consists in the element and features of combinations, shown and described as indicated in the claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical axial section of a structure embodying this invention. Fig.2 is a side elevation of the same, together with the means for separating the several parts for discharging the contents and cleansing. Fig. 3 is an axial section ofa bowl which is designed to be substituted for the separator bowl shown in Fig. 1, for continuing the process of separation as a process of drying when the material operated with is a moist granular or disintegrated substance, as in sugar making. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section at the line 44 on Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section at the line 5-5 on. Fig. 1.. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section at the line 66 on Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail side elevation showing the brake connections and operating device.

The specific purpose for which the structure shown in the drawings is designed,is that of clarifying liquids for discharging the solid impurities therefrom, and also for drying moist granular or pulverized solids, and is intended for operating upon such materials as sugar-bearing liquor, and one feature of the invention consists in providing for rotating the rotary element in which the centrifugal separation is effected, with a steam turbine motor having its axis vertical for carrying and rotating such bowl, t e entire structure being substantially a un' tary one, though the diiferent elements are separable and are designed to be separated a 1n the process of operating the device for its plp Patented Ma 23, 1911.

treated and discharging the impurities separately from the clarified liquor.

The apparatus comprises a hollow fixed base, 36, having atthe center an upstanding hollow boss, 36 whose upwardly opened cavity affords a seat and whose bottom forms a step bearing or support for the base, 33", of the standard, 33, of'the turbine casing, said standard comprising arms diverging upwardly from the base, and joined at their upper ends by an annular flange, or rim, 33", on which the turbine casing, 31, is lodged with its axis coincident with that of said base standard. The bottom portion of the.

cavity of the boss, 36*, is occupied by a yielding cushion, 34, preferably of rubber, upon which the fiat bottom of the base, 33, rests; and above said bottom there is lodged thereon an annular cushion, 34?, said cushion being retained by an annular flange part, 35, which is bolted to the top of the annular boss, so that the flange-like base, 33", of the tubine casin standard, 33, is held between the two cushlons, 34:, and 341, and the standard and turbine casing and all the structure resting thereon, as hereinafter described, is thereby adapted to slight yielding in all directions away from strict vertical position.

The turbine casing, 31, has a steam inlet opening, 1*, to which is connected a fitting,

24, having a valve, 24*, and an'exhaust or outlet opening to which there is connected a fitting, 14, the fittings, 24, and 14, being connected by flexible tubes, 25, and 15, respectively, with the fixed steam supply exhaust 25, and 15. The purpose of this flexible connection is to accommodate the rocking or vibrating action of the entire structure which tends to result from rapid rotary motion of even the most perfectly balanced body when stepped at the lower end, and revolving about a vertical axis. The turbine shaft, 6, is stepped at its lower end by means of a suitable anti-friction bearing, 9, in the upper end of the hub, 33, of the base, 33', within the diverging arms, 33", and 9", represents a cap 'or cover for this step bearing. On the upper side off the turbine casing, 31, there is mounted .a shaftbearing standard or spider, 17, comprising a central hub, 17, downwardly diverging arms, 1-7 and an annular-rim connecting the extremities of the armasaid. rim being seated and centered on the upper side of the casing, 31, and bolted thereto. The hub of this spider is formed with an upwardly open chamber which accommodates a ball bearing, 18, for the turbine shaft, 6, above which is mounted a collar, 19, which is fast on the turbine shaft, 6, and has a horizontal flange, 19 which forms a cover for said chamber to inclose and protect the ball bearing. The turbine shaft, 6, projects above said collar, and at its upper end has secured rigidly to it a cap, 7, which is exteriorly tapered and at its lower end has a horizontal flange, 7, from the outer periphery of which a cylindrical flange, 7 projects downward, encompassing the spider, 17, and the ball bearing. This cylindrical flange, 7", is designed to operate as a brake wheel, a brake strap, 27,

. being provided, extending about it, having one end attached to a stationary bracket arm, 28, rigid with the spider, 17, and the other end to a bell-crank-lever support, 29, which is fulcrumed on the spider and has an arm, 30, projecting horizontally and protruding through the cylinder, 87, forming a brake handle, to be operated at will for drawing the strap tight upon the brake wheel, which is done by lifting the arm, 30. The weight of the arm, 30, thus operates to slacken the brake strap when the operator releases the brake handle. It will be understood that the turbine motor has suitable governing devices, 16, for insuring uniformity of speed, the centrifugally operated elements of such governor being connected by lever, 21, and link, 23, with the operating handle, 24 of the steam inlet valve, 24*. The detail construction of this governor is not a part of this invention and will not be further particularly described. 6 Upon the upper end of the turbine shaft,

7 cap, 7, rigid with said shaft, there'is mounted the separator bowl. This bowl comprises a bottom consisting of three elements, 8, 69 and 70, hereinafter more particularly described, a cylindrical shell, 1, having projecting inwardly from its cylindricalwall horizontal shelves or ledges, 46, and a central element which consists of an axial tube, 44, having exteriorly projectin horizontal annular shelves or flanges, 47, at horizontal planes of the shelves, 46, of the outer shell, 1. Two of the elements of the bottom, 69, and 70, constitute what may be termed the permanent bottom, and the third element, 8, constitutes a movable bottom. The element, 70, is a slightly .dished annulus, having at 7 its exterior circumference a flange, 70*, fitting within the lower end of the outer shell, 1, and riveted thereto. The other member of the fixed bottom, 69, is a frusto-conical spider, comprising at its upper end a hub from which extends a flaring apertured web, whose lower outward circumferential edge and more specifically upon the taperedis seated in a rabbet, provided at the outer side of the inner circumferential margin, of the element, 70, said web having a plurality of apertures, 69*, for free communication with the cavity of the bowl when the movable bottom is withdrawn. Said movable bottom, 8, comprises a hub which has in its lower end a frusto-conical socket for fitting upon the frusto-conical cap at the upper end of the shaft, 6. From said hub at about the middle of its length projects a downwardly flaring web, 8 whose outer circumferential margin engages under the inner circumferential marginal portion of the element,70, that is, opposite the rabbet, 7 0', in which the element, 69, of the fixed bottom is seated as described. From the hub, 8, an axial threaded stem, 8, projects upward through the hub of the element, 69, which is centrally apertured, and a nut, 72, applied on said stem above the hub of the element, 69, serves to draw and bind the parts, 69, and 8, against the opposite surfaces of the inner circumferential margin of the element, 70, for closing up the bottom. The central element of the bowl comprising the tubular axial part, 44, is connected with the part, 69, of the fixed bottom, by means of a frustoconical collar, 7 3, having its lower end fitted about the upper end of the hub, 69, and having at its upper end a flange, 7 3 which is bolted to the lowest horizontal shelf or ledge, 47 of said central element. This frusto conical collar has a plurality of apertures, 7 3 between which there are provided projecting outwardly, a like plurality of blades or vanes, 73, which have the function of accelerating the communication to the liquor of the rotary movement of the bowl for the purpose of the centrifugal separating action desired.

The outer diameter of the shelves or ledges, 47, of the central element of the bowl is less than the inner diameter of the shelves or ledges, 46, of the outer element by a small amount, so that there is left between the outer circumference of the shelves,47, and the inner circumference of the shelves, 46, a narrow, annular aperture, 48.

The liquor to be treated is supplied through the axial tube, 44, of the central element of the bowl and passes out through the openings, 7 3*, at the bottom of said tubular element, being,accelerated in its rotation by the vanes, 7 3, with the effect of causing the heavier solids tobe deposited below the shelves, 46, and the lighter solids or float material to be caught under the shelves, 47, while the clarified liquor of intermediate density passes up through the annular aperture, 48, between the shelves of the outer and central elements respectively, additional deposits of solid material, light and heavy, being made under the several shelves as the liquor passes up. The upper shelves, 46. The

, lar disk, 44,

-is provided for the .shelves, 46. For ready disk or head, 46*, of the outer element, 1, of the bowl has its central aperture, .46, of greater diameter than that of the several central element has jecting from the inner tubular member, 44, a horizontal flange, 44, which covers the central aperture, '46", of the head, 46, and secured to said flange at the outer or upper side, there is a flanged collar, 44, whose vertical, cylindrical element is concentric .with said tubular element, 44. The flange, 44 is provided with a multiplicity of apertures,"45, just inside the flange collar, 44*,

so that the liquor which has passed through the upper annular aperture, 48, between the two horizontal shelves, 46, and 47, of the outer or inner members of the bowl, is discharged through said apertures, 45, into an annular pocket formed between the vertical cylindrical member, 44", and the axial tube, 44. On said collar, 44*,there is mounted so as to project horizontally from its upper end an annular disk, 44 which extends out over the central aperture, 40*, of a cover, 40, which is provided to close the upper end of the shell, 47 said disk serving to conduct the liquor which passes into said annular chamber of the collar, 44", and is discharged centrifugally. therefrom, beyond the central opening of'the cover, 40, and deliver it sloping upon the top of said cover, from which it flows into an annular receptacle, 41, which is provided encompassing the upper end of the shell, 4'7; From this receptacle liquor passes continually or as desired, by a discharge spout orconduit, 4 1. A cover, 40, receptacle, 4 1, and is preferably connected rigidly with the cover, 40, by straps, 40, said cover, 40 being overhung at its innercircumference by the annuwill engage said disk, when said cover is lifted. These covers being first removed, the central element, 44, of the bowl, may be lifted through the central I aperture of the-main or outer element.

The said central element being removed for emptying and cleaning, the

.outer member of the bowl, may nextbe lifted off the cap, 7, at the upper end of the turbine shaft, and carried laterally .away fromthe sh ell to a suitable positionfor discharging the. solid contents deposited under its access for removing such deposit, the nut, 72, will be screwed up onthe stem, 8 by means of a socket wrench extended down through the central openings of the shelves, 46, and thereby, the movable 3 eo bottom,8,.will be dropped, away from the fixedbottom and may be removed entirely if -fdesired,,giving free access through the apertures,69 of thecentral member of the bottom, intothe cavity 'of theouter element of the bowl fromwhose shelves and bottom,

thelsolid material may be scraped for dispro- out carrying the lighter. mpurities on its shelves, 47 which pass out.

,rator bowl having a bottom k members, the outer member being annular char e through the apertures of the central mem er of the fixed botto The separator thus far described, is preferably positioned under an overhead trolley track, 50, upon which trolley hangers or carriages, 51, and 52, are mounted, for traveling past the separator above the same. Grappling hooks, 53, and 54, of suitable sizes are suspended from the trolley hangers or carriages for grappling the cover, 40, and the central element, 44, the latter having suitable eyes, 44", on its top plate for engage ment of the grappling hooks, so that first the cover and afterward may be readily withdrawn upward and carried out of theway by the carriages on the track, 50. A third trolley carriage, 53, is then brought into position andits grappling device, 55, dropped into position for engaging the main or outer element of the bowl which is lifted off the cap, 7, at the upper end of the turbine shaft, and carried away by the trolley carriage to a position for disthe central element charging the solid contents Meanwhile the I trolley carriages, 52, and 53, are disengaged from the elements, 44, and 1, respectively,

and engaged with duplicate parts whichmay be brought back into position above the shell of the separator and assembled for operation while the parts which have been removed 'arelbeing emptied and cleaned. By

this means the operation is practically con- I tlnuous, the necessary interruption-for moving'one bowl and substituting another being very short.-

' It is intended that the same structure as to motor and inclosing casing, should be employed in the process of sugar making for drying the sugar, and for that purpose it is only necessary to substitute for the bowl described above, a suitable centrifugal dry-- ing how], such as illustrated in Fig. 3. This bowl has the ordinary construction of centrifugal drier, except as to the bottom,

which is identical with the bottom of the separator above described, comprising three parts, 69, 70, and 8 the last of which fits upon the tapering cap, of the turbine shaft. To adapt the struc: ture as a whole for this substitution,the outer shell, 37, is provided, with an annular drainage-pan 37, positioned below the bottom'of the rotating separator or drier, into which the liquid discharged over the top of the rotating drier is received,- from which it is discharged and drawn off bya spout, 37". v I i We claim:

1'. In combination having its axis vertical, a centrifugal sepacoinprising three 7, at the upper end and dished so that'itslopes downward fromtured in its sloping area and at its lower and wider base seated upon the inner circumferential margin of the dished member, the third member having a threaded stem which penetrates the center of the second member, and a frusto conical flange which at its margin fits under the inner circumferential'margin of the dished member opposite the seat of the second member, and a nut on the threaded stem for clamping the second and third members onto the dished member, said third member being socketed on its under side and constituting the means of mounting the bowl upon' the shaft.

2. In a centrifugal separator, a bowl having its axis vertical, and means upon which it is mounted for rotation about such vertical axis, saidbowl comprising an outer cylindrical element having horizontal annular shelves or ledges pro ect1ng from the inner surface of its outercylindrical wall; an inwhereby narrow ner element having an axial chamber, and having annular horizontal shelves or ledges projecting from its outer circumference at the planes respectively of the shelves or ledges of the outer element; the outer diameter of the annular shelves of the inner element being slightly less than the inner diameter of the shelves of the outer element, annular passages are formed between the edges of said shelves respectively; the bottom of the bowl comprising a central member which supports said inner element, the latter being apertured below the lowest ofthe shelves for communication of its axial chamber with the cavity of the bowl outside said inner element.

3. In a centrifugal separator, a cylindrical bowl having its axis vertical and mounted for rotation about such axis', such bowl comprising an axial chamber open at the top for reception of the material to be treated; an annular chamber encompassing the axial chamber; a closed bottom for the entire bowl comprising an annular member fixed with respect to the bowl, a central member which is movable downwardly from the annular member and an apertured or false bottom above the removable central member.

4. In a centrifugal separator, a cylindrical bowl having its axis vertical and mounted for rotation about its axis, comprising an axial chamber and an annular chamber encompassing the axial chamber; a plurality of annular shelves or ledges projecting at the same planes from the inner and outer walls respectively of the annular chamber,

having respectively their outer and inner circumferences slightly separated forming narrow annular passages between them; the top of the bowl being apertured for escape of the liquid at an annular area or zone, and having an upwardly and outwardly ext nding fl nge projecting from the top out- 'side said annular area; an annular cover overhanging the bowl and havm its inner circumference overhung by said ange, and

- a liquid receptacle within which said annular cover terminates at said outer circum; ference.

5. In a centrifugal separator, a cylindrical bowl having its axis vertical and mounted forrotation about such axis, comprising an axial chamber open at the upper end to receive the material to be treated and an annular chamber encompassing. such axial chamber; a plurality of annular shelves projecting at the same planes from the inner and outer walls respectively of said annular chamber having respectively their outer and inner circumferences separated forming annular passages between them; the top of the bowl being apertured for discharge at an annular area and having an upwardly and outwardly extending flange encompassing said annular discharge area; an annular receptacle encompassing the upper part of the bowl and having its top or cover extending above an annular area whose inner circumference is the outer circumference of said flange; whereby the liquid is discharged from said flange under said cover.

6. In a centrifugal separator, a cylindrical bowl having its axis vertical and mounted for rotation about said axis, comprising an axial chamber and an annular chamber encompassing the same; the axial chamber having communication at its lower end with the lower part of the annular chamber; shelves or ledges in the annular chamber formed with passages through which the liquid may move upward past said shelves; the top of the chamber being apertured for discharge at an annular area, and havingan outwardly extending flange encompassing said area; a fixed annular receptacle encompassing the bowl, having covers extending inwardly from its outer and nner circumferences respectively overhanging the bowl, said flange terminating at its outer circumference between said covers for discharge of the liquid which passes over it between the covers for delivery thereby into sald annular receptacle.

7. In a centrifugal separator, a cylindrlcal bowl having its axis vertical and mounted for rotation about said axis, comprising a central member having an axial chamber and an outer member inclosing an annular chamber between the two members; a closed bottom for the entire bowl, and a false bottom above lower end; a

- bottom a central member having an axial chamber and an outer member inclosing an annular chamber between the two members; a bottom for the entire bowl on which the central member is removably stepped at its plurality of annular shelves projecting outwardly from said central member and inwardly from the outer member, spaced apart to form annular passages between them, the top of the outer member having a central aperture through which the shelves of the inner member can pass.

9. In a centrifugal separator, a cylindri cal bowl having its axis vertical and mounted for rotation about such axis, such bowl comprising a central member havingan axial chamber open at the upper end for rethe material to be treated, and.

ception of an outer member inclosing an annular chamber'between the two members; a bottom for the entire bowl on which't-he lower end of the central member is stepped and by which the axial chamber of said central member is closed at said end; said central member having at its lower portion above said bottom apertures leading into the annular chamber; vanes or accelerators extending outwardly into said annular chamber'intermediate said apertures, and shelves in said annular chamber apertured for the passage of liquid upward past them. w 10. Ina centrifugal separator, cal bowl having its axis vertical ed for rotation. about its axis, comprising an annular member having an axial chainber open at the upper end; an outer member encompassing the inner member and inclosand mounting an annular chamber between them; a'

bottom for the entire bowl comprising an outer annular member; .a central member which closes the central a erture of the annular.member and fits undhrneath the same, and a third member seated aperture of the inner member and apertured at an annular area; the central member being seated upon said last mentioned member the bottom within said inner apertured area, the second mentioned member of the having an axial threaded stem, and the last mentioned member having a central aperture through which said stem extends, and a nut on said stem above said last mentioned member for clamping the second and third members against opposite sides of the annular member.

11. In a centrifugal separator, in combia cylindrithe shell.

above the central mounted for rotation about its axis, the mo-.

tor and bowl being both inclosed within the fixed shell; a cover for the shell; an-annular chamber encompassing the shell and a cover for such chamber; the bowl comprising an outer member and a central which is removable vertically through the top of the outer member; the central memher having an axial chamber which is'open at its upper end; the covers being apertured above said open end of the central member; the top of the bowl being apertured for dis-- charge of the liquid therefrom at an annular area; a flange encompassing said annular area terminating atits outer circumference between said covers of theshell and receptacle; said two covers being connected and said flange, being separable by upward movement from the bowl; wherebyv the cov'-. ers and flange may be removed together.-

12. A centrifugal separator comprising rotary motor having its axis vertica and the upper end of its shaft terminating for mounting which incloses the motor and extends there'- above for inclosing the bowl; an annular pan mounted on the inner side of the shell below the position of these arator bowl in position to be overhung by e latter, and a conduit from such pan leading out through V 13.. A centrifugal separating device comprising a rotary motor havin its vertical, the upper end of its sha adapted for removably mounting a bowl thereon; a shellencompassing the motor and extending thereabove for inclosin the bowl, an annular pan mountedwithm the shell in position to be overhung by the bowl, and an annular. receptacle mounted outside the shell on the upper end thereof; a removable annular'cover for the shell and a removable cover for the exterior annular receptacle.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Chicago, Illinois, this 7th day of December, 1909.

GEORGE E. SANFORD. ERNST W. KOPKE. HENRY E. PROCUNIER.

-. Witnesses:

CHAS. S. BURTON,

C. J. Clams-roman the separator bowl thereon, a shell 

